Which organ produces insulin, a hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar levels?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. Beta cells located in the islets of Langerhans within the pancreas are responsible for insulin production. Insulin plays a crucial role in regulating blood sugar levels by promoting the uptake of glucose into cells, thereby maintaining blood sugar levels within a normal range. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because the parathyroid gland is primarily involved in regulating calcium levels, the thymus gland is involved in immune function, and the ovaries are involved in reproductive functions, not insulin production for blood sugar regulation.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The main function of the epiglottis is to control the passage of food and air. It acts as a cover for the trachea during swallowing to prevent food from entering the airway. This mechanism ensures that food safely travels down the esophagus to the stomach, while air simultaneously enters the trachea and moves into the lungs for respiration. Choice A is incorrect as the warming and humidifying of inhaled air primarily occur in the nasal cavity. Choice C is incorrect because sound production for speech involves structures like the vocal cords rather than the epiglottis. Choice D is incorrect as sensing foreign objects is not a primary function of the epiglottis; instead, this role is typically associated with sensory receptors in the respiratory tract.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B. Saliva contains an enzyme called amylase, which specifically targets carbohydrates and breaks them down into smaller molecules like sugars. Pepsin, choice A, is an enzyme found in the stomach that breaks down proteins, not carbohydrates. Lipase, choice C, is responsible for breaking down fats, not carbohydrates. Trypsin, choice D, is an enzyme that breaks down proteins in the small intestine, not carbohydrates. Therefore, choices A, C, and D are incorrect for this question.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is the prostate gland (Choice C). The prostate gland, located near the bladder, is responsible for producing seminal fluid. This fluid, along with sperm from the testes, makes up semen. The bladder stores urine, the urethra is a tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body, and the kidney filters waste from the blood to produce urine. The prostate gland's specific function is to secrete a milky, alkaline fluid that mixes with sperm during ejaculation to form semen. This fluid helps nourish and protect the sperm, aiding in their motility and viability. Therefore, the prostate gland plays a crucial role in male reproductive function by contributing to the composition and quality of semen, essential for fertility.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The scrotum is the correct answer, as it is the protective sac surrounding the testes in the male reproductive system. The scrotum's role is crucial in maintaining the optimal temperature for proper sperm production by regulating the distance of the testes from the body. The vas deferens is a duct responsible for transporting sperm from the testes to the urethra, not the protective sac surrounding the testes. The epididymis is a coiled tube where sperm mature and are stored before ejaculation, not the protective sac. The urethra is a tube that serves as a common passageway for both urine and semen to exit the body, not the protective sac surrounding the testes.